Thread: Electric fuel pump, or.......??

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Originally Posted by J. Robinson

Well, here's my two cents worth... First, let me say I don't like aftermarket electric fuel pumps, period! I am using one on my roadster only because the Chevy S-10 engine has no place to put a mechanical pump. I am using a Mr. Gasket inline "micro electric" #12S. I don't know what it sounds like yet and I can't speak to its reliability. I picked this one because the guy at my local parts store assures me that it is a common pump available at many stores across the country. My theory is, and always has been, if I break down in Ballzitch, Arkansas on Sunday afternoon, I don't want to be stuck in a motel for days waiting for some high-zoot one-off part to be delivered.

Having said all that, if I have a choice between using a stock type mechanical pump or an electric, I will take the mechanical pump every time. They are generally more reliable and they have the added safety feature that they stop pumping when the engine stops running.

I once encountered a situation where the fuel line was already installed on the right (passenger) side frame rail, but an engine swap put the fuel pump on the left side. Rather than re-plumb the whole thing, I put an extension on the fuel line and ran it across the front crossmember and then back to the fuel pump on the right. I bent the line to fit the contour of the crossmember and anchored it in place beside the brake line that was already there. It was almost invisible when everything else was in place and, as far as I know, it's still there today... Anyway, there's a possibility you may not have considered.

First of all - I agree with you about mechanical vs electric fuel pumps, which is the reason that I have the mech version on the engine now opposed to the Holley black that I originally had plumbed in place. Additionally, I can go into any parts store and for very few bucks, find a replacement SB Ford pump if I'm on the road.

I just pulled the existing line out and am about to go to the parts store for some 3/16 "sacrificial" tubing for fit up plus order up a couple of pieces of 3/8" SS from McMaster-Carr. I have already "sacrificed" a short length of 3/8"CS tubing that I had, for a way around my roadblocks and find that with some judicious planning and the right bends along with a bracket, I appear to have room - but just barely .

I did see that Mr Gasket 12S pump - and it looked interesting plus cheap but I did wonder how it works - micro electronics to me is saying that here's a "black box". It works, but we wont tell you how . Is it like one of those Wagner vibrator spray guns? Is it a rotary vane? A gearotor? Let us know how it works.

Well most of my experience comes from the diesel end. the Carter pumps generally don't do the job either on the diesel or gas. Should you go this way they are about 120 bucks for the 4601. Get the marine epoxy coated one. these are relatively quiet if used with isolators. You'll need a fuel pressure regulator.

There is an inline Carter 5001 that is much better but still subject to failure. You still need a regulator. Diesel guys like this one.

I have a "blue" that so far is ok. noisy but pumps. I need to get a spare however. That seemes to be the key. Also you might as well make you fuel line with a "zipper" so you can change the pump at road side inthe rain and sleet. haha. Just add a handfull of ball valves. That what the wise diesel guys do.

You can spend $400+ on the gerotor/filter pumps and say solved. Diesel guys spend 500-600 on these and think nothing of it........still occasionally fail in the sleet and rain of course.

Hate to live with it but that the story on electric fuel pumps.

Stay with the mechanical on gass if at all possible.

The last two fuel tanks we built, we used stock GM in-tank pumps...you can buy them in either low pressure or high pressure models (either throttle body injection or high pressure injection). If you buy the AC part number, they are about $42 each. We put two in each tank and wire them separately so you can swap pumps if one fails. The fuel lines from the pump have check valves to prevent back flow from one pump to the other.

The pumps are submersed in gas so they are quiet...and run cool.

The only downside is that you have to have a large enough access hole to get them thru...maybe a 3 inch dia hole? We have a bigger hole since we used fuel cell foam and had to have room to stuff it.

mike in tucson

I got my replacement SS tubing from McMaster Carr yesterday afternoon. I'm about ready to fit up my new line in an attempt to stay with the mechanical pump. I have two 90* bends with only 2" between them and are using some "gold plated" SS AN- elbows to do that. I do need to make four more fairly tight turns, but not 90's. Yes, I do have a tubing bender - mediocre quality for 3/8". My concern is kinking. I used a sacrificial piece hydraulic line and a bit thicker, and instant kink!! Others have said sand inside the tubing then the bender will work fairly well to keep the turns reasonably neat. Has anyone tried that method? This SS tubing takes too long to get to me as well as being fairly expensive to waste